Craven Vale is a narrow steep-sided valley in east Brighton, running from the Racecourse grandstand to Eastern Road by Brighton College. It is bounded to the east by the steep slopes of Whitehawk Hill and to the west by a ridge running along Freshfield Road, separating it from the Queen’s Park development.

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Just three quarters of a mile in length, this short valley effectively has only two routes in – Queensway runs south from the Racecourse, meeting Sutherland Road which runs north from Eastern Road. Side roads linking this spine road with Freshfield Road are all very steep, with no roads across Whitehawk Hill.

There are four main sub-areas: The Causeway and Monument View at the top of the hill – an estate run by the housing association Sanctuary Housing; the main BHCC council estate called Craven Vale; the lower private dwellings of the area still known as Baker’s Bottom; and the lower area shared by Brighton College, the bingo hall on Eastern Road and the Freshfield Industrial Estate.

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